Canada gurdwara stabbing: 2 injured in Edmonton, suspect held day after prison release

Two individuals were injured in a stabbing incident at a gurdwara in Edmonton, Canada on Friday morning. The suspect, a 27-year-old man who had been released from prison the day prior following a prior assault conviction, was subsequently arrested. Police reported that the suspect had a history of violent attacks dating back to 2015.

The attack took place at the Nanaksar Gurdwara around 4:49 local time after police received reports of a man in traffic. About 15 minutes later, officers arrived at the gurdwara where they found the suspect attempting to access the prayer area. He was confronted by staff and a confrontation ensued, leading to the stabbing of two male patrons.

Both victims, aged 75 and 51, were taken to the hospital and their injuries were not considered serious. The motive behind the attack remains unclear and investigators are exploring whether it was motivated by hateful ideology. The Sikh scripture was also desecrated during the incident. The Edmonton Police Chief urged the public to allow time for a thorough investigation while acknowledging the rising incidents of hate crimes.

The World Sikh Organization of Canada condemned the attack as deeply troubling, noting an increase in anti-Sikh hate in the country. UK Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed solidarity with the injured and the Sikh community, condemning the attack and praising the swift response of the Edmonton Police Service. The Edmonton gurdwara remains closed to the public while the investigation continues.